The Park University Gilbert baseball team came into this series with Embry Riddle with one goal. Make the Cal Pac Tournament. The Buccaneers controlled their destiny, win the series and you are in and if some other things fell your way, get a high seed. Embry Riddle had the same goal; to win the series and guarantee a spot in the tournament. Embry Riddle used solid hitting and some ill-timed defensive errors on the park of the Buccaneers to sweep a double header from the Buccaneers, winning game one 16-5 and game two 10-5.
With the sweep, ERAU qualifies for the Cal Pac Tournament. For the Buccaneers, they still control their own destiny. The third game in this series is on Sunday. Marymount California who was also swept in a double header today by Saint Katherine play tomorrow. If Marymount California loses tomorrow, the Buccaneers are in. If Marymount California wins on Saturday, the Bucs will need to win on Sunday to clinch the final berth in the tournament.
Game 1 – Embry Riddle 16, Park Gilbert 5 (7 innings)
A five-run first and a nine-run did the major damage as the Eagles won the first game of the double header in run-rule fashion 16-5.
Park Gilbert starter Nick Marcon had his worst outing as a Buc allowing 11 runs on 10 hits and gave up four home runs in 3.1 innings.
After falling behind 6-0, the Bucs closed the margin to 6-4 going into the bottom of the fourth, but the Eagles scored nine runs on eight hits to break the game open and never looked back.
Aaron Stinnett, Logan White, Aaron Lizarraga and Joel Adamson each had two hits as the Buccaneers posted 11 hits for the game.
Game 2 – Embry Riddle 10, Park Gilbert 5
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead again in Game two against surprise Buccaneer starter Aaron de Groot. They put up two in the first and one each in the second and third to take a 4-0 lead.
Just like in game one, every time the Bucs shaved the lead down, the Eagles had an answer to re-extend their advantage.
Park Gilbert posted three runs in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to one behind RBI singles by Joey Martinez and Lizarraga and a sacrifice fly by White. ERAU came right back with two of their own in the bottom half of the frame to take its lead back to three.
Solo runs by the Buccaneers in the seventh and eight cut the lead back to one and gave Bucs fans some hope of a come back win. But a throwing error by Lizarraga with two outs in the bottom of the eight led to another big inning. Instead of zero runs coming across, four Eagles runs put the game out of reach.
Game three of the series will be played on Sunday, but all Buccaneer eyes will be glued to the USK/MCU game tomorrow afternoon to see what will be required on Sunday.
